The Sanyasis are devotees of the god Shiva, and much of their dress,
behavior and style of life is supposedly modeled on that of Shiva
himself. Thus many sanyasis, wear their hair in matted locks,
consume hash and other drugs, and attempt to live detached from all
things. As with all ascetics, there is considerable variation in
individual ascetic practice. Here we see a group of three Sanyasis
who were out for a stroll together.

This is Digambar Naga Toofan Giri, who was wandering the Kumbha
Mela grounds resplendant in his nakedness (actually he's wearing a silver
ring on his penis, so I think there was a little exhibitionsim going on).
Some ascetics still give up all clothing, as a sign of renouncing
everything, including shame. His surname Giri indicates that he was
a Naga sanyasi of the Giri suborder (and the Giri Nagas sanyasis have far
greater numbers than any of the
others).

This sanyasi had built a hut (kuti) on the path leading to
Kedarnath, a pilgrimage spot at 11,000 feet in the Himalayas (there's a
picture of the temple in the section titled "Temples and Sacred Sites").
The ten mile from the end of the paved road at Gaurikund climbs 5,000
feet--an arduous journey, but exhilirating. During the summer pilgrimage
season many ascetics set up huts alongside the path, and gain their
livelihood by begging from the pilgrims passing by. For the pilgrims,
giving money (or supplies) to the sadhus is an act of religious merit, to
support men who devote their lives to religious practice. For many sadhus
smoking intoxicating drugs is an integral part of their daily religious
practice; this sadhu is holding a chillum, a baked clay cylinder used to
smoke a mixture of tobacco and hashish. Ganja grows wild all through the
Himalayas, and thus the sadhus can manufacture enough hashish for their
own needs. This picture was taken in April 1986; and this sadhu was a very
gentle and soft-spoken man. The markings on his forehead and on his
temples at the corners of his eyes identify him as belonging to one of the
Sanyasi Naga Akharas, which in earlier times were groups of ascetics who
made their living as traders and mercenary
soldiers.

Here is a picture of another sadhu, taken on my way back down the
mountain from the Kedarnath temple. This ascetic is wearing the matted
locks characteristic of the god Shiva's devotees, in emulation of their
patron deity himself. This matted hair is one marker of how sadhus reject
the settled and conformist values of mainstream Hindu society. He is also
carrying a trident, which is another symbol of Shiva. This picture was
taken in April 1986, and I was very careful to ask for permission, since
many sadhus do not like to have their pictures
taken.

Most ascetics live fairly simple lives, and for many of the poorer
ones life can often be very difficult. One of the ways that ascetics
can survive is by helping each other--and many ascetics are very willing
to share what little they have, from the conviction that God will send
more to them. Hindu culture also stresses the religious merit
generated by giving to ascetics, either through direct gifts, or through
supporting charitable institutions that house and feed them. Through
such support ascetics can live a subsistence life, and for those who are
genuinely spiritually inclined, this allows them to devote themselves to
religious life.

Many ascetics survive is by forming small communities of
their own, often comprised of a guru and his disciples. Such small
groups may travel and live together for decades, and these connections
provide mutual support. This group of sanyasis (photographed in 1990
in Benares) has built a hut (kuti) as a place to live. Locals claim
that the ruined temple behind it was cursed to be ruined by an angry
ascetic. Since genuine ascetics are often believed to have magic
powers (and in any case are unpredictable), most people treat them with
great respect.